George Kittle Refutes Contract Dispute Claims Amid 49ers OTA Absence

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle missed the team's voluntary offseason workouts, prompting reports from multiple outlets that his absence was contract-related and that he is seeking to become the NFL's highest-paid tight end. These reports, notably from The Athletic's Dianna Russini, claimed the 49ers and Kittle are far apart in contract negotiations and that he has rejected multiple offers. Kittle publicly refuted these claims on social media, stating that the information reported about his contract demands and reasons for missing OTAs was inaccurate. Historically, Kittle has often skipped the early voluntary workouts, and team sources and reporters noted his absence this year may not be unusual. General Manager John Lynch characterized communication with Kittle as positive and ongoing, while emphasizing the voluntary nature of the workouts. No trade request has been made, and while other teams are monitoring the situation, Kittle’s future with the 49ers remains publicly unresolved.